Homecoming

This riveting psychological thriller dealing with returning American servicemen has just completed its second season and I am here to sing its praises – of course, without divulging any spoilers. An audio drama available as a free podcasts, it features a stellar cast headed by Catherine Keener, Oscar Isaac, David Schwimmer, Amy Sedaris and in season 2, Michael Cera.

I submit this post for Tuesday’s Overlooked Media meme hosted by Todd Mason over at his Sweet Freedom blog.

The series started in November 2016 and there have now been two serials, each made up of 6 episode approximately 25 minutes in length. Catherine Keener  plays Heidi Bergman, currently a waitress in Florida. But she seems to be generating a lot of interest from some highly unusual patrons at her diner. It turns out that many years before she had worked at a facility trying to help soldiers with extreme problems related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But why is she now a waitress – and why does she claim not to have any memory of her previous life? We regularly flashback to her time on the project and in particular her dealings her dreadful bullying boss (played very convincingly by David Schwimmer) and her growing attachment to one of her patients Walter Cruz, played by one of the best actors out there right now, Oscar Isaac (who is probably best known for starring as Poe in the new Star Wars films).

I shan’t say any more to avoid spoilers, but this is a terrific thriller and great to see an American audio production getting some real love and attention with such a high-profile cast and very solid production values.

To listen to the whole series, visit: https://gimletmedia.com/homecoming/

Homecoming (2016-17)
Created and written: Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg
Directed: Eli Horowitz
Produced: Alicia Van Couvering, Mark Henry Phillips (for Gimlet Media)
Sound design, editing, music: Mark Henry Phillips
Casting: Henry Russell Bergstein.
Cast: Catherine Keener (Heidi Bergman), Oscar Isaac (Walter Cruz), David Schwimmer (Colin Belfast), Babak Tafti (Joseph Shrier), Marsha Stephanie Blake (Dara Eackles), Amy Seders (Audrey Temple), David Cross (Anthony Azam), Phyllis Somerville (Ellen Bergman)